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Lisbon,
Portugal, 16th March -Jose Maria Olazabal's magnificent return
to competitive golf after 18 months absence has earned him the Johnnie
Walker Golfer of the Month Award for February.
He was named
winner for his incredible efforts in the Dubai Desert Classic, his
comeback tournament, when he scored rounds of 69, 74, 65, 71 to
finish in joint 12th position out of a top class field.
Olazabal, the
1994 US Masters champion had not played in a tournament since the
Trophee Lancome n September 1995 after he contracted what was diagnosed
to be rheumatoid arthritis. He feared he might never play golf again
but after lengthy treatment and great patience he chose the Dubia
Desert Classic for his return and played seven rounds in seven days.
"I was surprised how well I played and score three round under
par over the Emirates golf course was very good," he said.
"I received a very nice welcome back to the European Tour from
everybody and now to be given the Johnnie Walker Golfer of the Month
Award pleases me very much."
The 31 year-old
Spaniard earned £1,000 for the PGA European Tour Benevolent
Trust and £1,000 for the Golf Foundation. He receives personally
a Golf Ball decanter by Garrod, the Crown Jewellers.
A panel form
the Association of Golf Writers met with European Tour representatives
and award sponsors Johnnie Walker during the Portuguese Open. Although
February is the shortest month, it provided an impressive choice
of candidates for the Award, among them Jose Maria, Nick Faldo,
who won the Nissan Los Angeles Open by three strokes, and Australian
Richard Green, who won the Dubai Desert Classic in a play-off with
world No 1, Greg Norman and former world No 1, Ian Woosnam.
All three were
worth candidates for superb achievements but in the end the vote
went in favour of Jose Maria, not just for his courage in difficult
times but demonstrating that his long lay-off from the game had
not diminished his great golfing skills.
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